Think Progress

McCain jokes about ‘killing’ Iranians by getting them addicted to smoking.

Last year, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) joked about bombing Iran to the theme of the Beach Boy’s “Barbara Ann.” McCain was widely criticized for the remark, but simply told critics to “lighten up and get a life.” The Washington Post notes that McCain tried joking about “killing” Iranians again today:

Responding to a question about a survey that shows increased exports to Iran, mainly from cigarettes, McCain said, “Maybe thats a way of killing them.” He quickly caught himself, saying “I meant that as a joke” as his wife, Cindy, poked him in the back.

According to a report released today, U.S. exports to Iran “grew more than tenfold during President Bush’s years in office even as he accused Iran of nuclear ambitions and helping terrorists. America sent more cigarettes to Iran, at least $158 million worth under Bush, than any other products.”

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Update Watch the "joke":


77 Responses to “McCain jokes about ‘killing’ Iranians by getting them addicted to smoking.”

  1. Paul W says:

    He quickly caught himself, saying “I meant that as a joke” as his wife, Cindy, poked him in the back.

    Spare us the jokes please. That requires a wit that you just don’t possess.

    http://progressiveworldreview.com


  2. Old Lady from Wyoming says:

    McCain is a sick old war monger and he needs to go back to Arizona and retire by a lake and stop with his craziness. I’m surprised he didn’t suggest sending budweiser beer to Iran.


  3. Hussein McCain says:

    Cindy’s poker must be getting pretty worn out.


  4. ralph the wonder llama says:

    Another fine example of “Republican humor”. Right up there with Reagan’s light-hearted announcement that he’d outlawed Russia and bombing would begin in five minutes. Hilarious!

    By the way, what ever happened to the 1/2 Hour News Hour?


  5. lokidog says:

    I wish the Iranians would export 20 tons of pretzels to the White House.


  6. Aanya says:

    Just what we don’t need, another Presnutcase who speaks without thinking! What a hurtful and damaging remark on so many levels! I have a feeling McCain is a champ at verbal abuse! How very sad for his family!


  7. Cheap Skateboard says:

    How about we work out a barter system. 1 carton of cigarettes for a barrel of oil


  8. Hussein McCain says:

    No wonder his captors tried to send him home early- he was creeping them out.


  9. Badmoodman says:

    Where McCain ends and Lieberman begins is as indistinct as the two halves of a pantomime horse. You don’t know which one is the horse’s head and which one is the horse’s arse.


  10. Badmoodman says:

    The Choice (and remember, death is not an option); “I’m-A-Dinner-Jacket’s” lunacy or McCain’s senility?


  11. katy says:

    via C&L comments – MUST READ – PASS IT ON

    Mission Impossible

    Why we should end the war in Iraq—now.

    http://www.texasmonthly.com/2008-07-01/btl.php


  12. peter_klaus says:

    Disturbing remarks. It just shows this guy is not capable of thinking clearly at a very basic level. What a shame to America.


  13. Hussein McCain says:

    J. Kerry, it helps reveal the twisted turnings of Johnny’s mind, which, fortunately, he is too stupid to keep to himself.


  14. Marie says:

    Lame jokes that befit the lame candidate.

    Bush=McCain signs and their holders are arrested (for trespassing?) at his speeches.
    A veteran questions McCain about his non-support of vets’ health care and McCain responds with the Webb GI education bill. The vet calls him on changing the subject and McCain bsushes him off.
    McCain is screening journalists who accompany him on his plane. Apparently you have to “earn” the right to report on him.
    This is all sounding very familiar isn’t it? Imagine if he should win the White House.

    BTW speaking of Bush, apparently he used several occasions to casually interject his birthday — the boy-king, perpetual child (no, spoiled brat) always needs to be the center of attention.


  15. scytherius says:

    Republicans are simply not human. They need to be rounded up and put in camps.


  16. Cats r Flyfishn says:

    Forget the poke in the back, Cindy should have whacked him over the head. McCain is an as$ hole


  17. Badmoodman says:

    He quickly caught himself, saying “I meant that as a joke” as his wife, Cindy, poked him in the back.

    – - As Cindy whispered in her husband’s ear, “Johnny, who’s the c*nt now?”


  18. jonny says:

    Most young Iranians are much more sympathetic to America than they are to the Mullahs.

    Yet McSame wants them dead?

    Why would any sentient being support or vote for such an idiot?


  19. upside99 says:

    john kerry has such a rapier wit. It does add a bit of 3rd grade humor to the threads.


  20. tarazan says:

    At least we can manage to tolerate his jokes now ,but if he is elected..it will not be a joking matter,it will be a real bloody war with Iran.


  21. jonny says:

    21. tarazan Says:

    At least we can manage to tolerate his jokes now ,but if he is elected..it will not be a joking matter,it will be a real bloody war with Iran.
    _____

    And, unlike Saddam’s Iraq, Iran has a real army. No “cakewalk” there.


  22. Progressive101 says:

    Once again, an example of McCain’s morbid sense of humor. What a wonderful role model to kids he would be as president (sarcasm).


  23. vat694848 says:

    Mac, quite the joker, I wonder if he will sub for Leno?


  24. LibertyLover says:

    katy Says:
    via C&L comments – MUST READ – PASS IT ON
    Mission Impossible
    Why we should end the war in Iraq—now.
    http://www.texasmonthly.com/2008-07-01/btl.php
    July 8th, 2008 at 10:44 pm

    —-

    Awesome article. Thanks for sharing.


  25. ADDdaddy says:

    I assume that the Tobacco Industry will no longer be financially supporting his candidacy. I mean, coming right out and speaking the truth- cigarettes kill. wow, he is a Maverick… albeit, unintentional.


  26. Exit Stage Left says:

    Hussein McCain Says:
    Cindy’s poker must be getting pretty worn out.

    I bet she wants to puke when he pokes her :)~


  27. ADDdaddy says:

    katy Says:

    via C&L comments – MUST READ – PASS IT ON

    Mission Impossible

    Why we should end the war in Iraq—now.

    http://www.texasmonthly.com/2008-07-01/btl.php

    send this to every chickenhawk you know


  28. Game of Life says:

    mcchimpy and his ditzy wife are two wild and crazy guys.


  29. SP Biloxi says:

    “Cindy, poked him in the back.”

    Yup, Sugarmomma had to straighten out Prune juice McCain. And of course, another free pass by the media for Teflon John.


  30. Game of Life says:

    Hussein McCain Says:

    No wonder his captors tried to send him home early- he was creeping them out.

    How much do you wanna bet the vid showing mcchimpy with a caste on his right arm was removable? his captors loved him then and they love him now. how many US soldiers had a clean cot? he could never command a squad.


  31. ff11 says:

    “Spare us the jokes please. That requires a wit that you just don’t possess.”

    He possesses half of it.

    I only meant that as a joke, the man is all class.

    Just not very high class.


  32. Daddy-O says:

    “America sent more cigarettes to Iran, at least $158 million worth under Bush, than any other products.”

    Wow. What a strategery. I’ll bet he thought it up himself.

    No one could have predicted THAT one, at least.


  33. bryan hussein says:

    This type of FUBAR moment usually marks the end of someone’s campaign, and sometimes even one’s entire careeer.

    Fortunately for McCain, the mainstream corporate media is his base.


  34. ralph the wonder llama says:

    upside99 Says:
    john kerry has such a rapier wit. It does add a bit of 3rd grade humor to the threads.

    I agree, but he’s seemed so angry lately.

    Everything all right at home, Troll JK?


  35. Game of Life says:

    mcchimpy is a real racist. he cant and wont understand the difference hues of brown countries. to him it’s all his. that in itself is very racist. what’s so funny about killing for oil.

    these despitable repugs will sing it, dance it, even get an Easter Bunny to say it “we (repugs) can do what the hell we want. any where. any time. just as long as they do it chimpy’s way.”

    how can congress let this madman runamuck.

    the repug party is an old walking animated rerun joke. Get Real! This is called the old time repug frontin’. Anyone with half sense should know this is wrong.

    Do what the Constitution says or throw it away.


  36. republicanSScareme says:

    I notice Mad-Dog John doesn’t joke about bombing North Vietnam.

    Write your own joke here.


  37. Max-1 says:

    .

    Q U E S T I O N:
    What kind of person “jokes” about killing other people of a nation…

    What if Ahmadinejad said that he was joking…?

    .


  38. republicanSScareme says:

    John is usually flippant about things he knows nothing about. He gets irritated at legitimate questions. I predict his short fuse will pop the wiring someday.

    Navy good! Hippies bad!


  39. pluege says:

    mccain is a bloodthirsty psychopath – he’s the prototypical republican.


  40. bernarda says:

    McBush has changed his tune on foreign wars and nation-building.

    http://youtube.com/watch?v=o8TFKXHiefs

    Remember that the intervention in Somalia was started by father Bush and continued by Clinton.


  41. Evil Spaniard says:

    The effects of McCain’s jokes and Bush “Axis of Evil” idiocy:

    Iran tests missiles, vows to hit back if attacked

    http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080709/wl_nm/iran_missiles_test_dc;_ylt=Asvg.6FNl.wyyxAX3xDEuQys0NUE

    TEHRAN (Reuters) – Iran test-fired nine missiles on Wednesday and warned the United States and Israel it was ready to retaliate if they attacked the Islamic Republic over its disputed nuclear projects.


  42. alimostofi says:

    At least he should separate Iranians from Seyyeds. The Seyyeds are very much into drugs, and are involved in the supply chain. Narcotics is killing America, and it mostly comes from where the US forces are in Afghanistan.


  43. tom says:

    I wish the Iranians would export 20 tons of pretzels to the White House.

    Actually, it was the Jack Daniels — not the pretzels — that nearly did in GDumbya. Maybe the Iranians should send a couple cases of Jack Daniels to the White House; however, GDumbya’s constant drunken stupor is what got us into this mess in the first place.


  44. DallasNE says:

    Why is it that none of McCain’s “jokes” are funny. At least in my books, there is nothing funny in comments about death and destruction. Does this man not have anything positve to say? Ever? McCain=Cheney.


  45. jay_severin_has_a_small_pen1s says:

    He should leave the Republican humor to Dennis Miller, the Cat Stevens of comedy.


  46. RantingTommy says:

    alimostofi Says:

    At least he should separate Iranians from Seyyeds. The Seyyeds are very much into drugs, and are involved in the supply chain. Narcotics is killing America, and it mostly comes from where the US forces are in Afghanistan.

    Actually, it’s the laws against narcotics that are killing America. If we legalized, regulated, and taxed them, using the money raised from taxes for education and the money saved from ending the ‘war on some drugs’ to erase the deficit, the world would have a MUCH brighter future.

    Legalizing drugs would immediately take away a major source of funding for terrorists and other organized crime groups.


  47. Keith H. says:

    Have you seen him speak publicly ?
    He’s definitely ready for the assisted living facility.


  48. Bozo The Neoclown says:

    I think I’m going to send Cindy “the plastic surgery nightmare” McLame a taser gun. That way the next time she pokes grampy in the back she can give him a 20,000 volt reminder of what a retard he is.


  49. galmud says:

    What an unbelivably stupid horrible thing to say. Is this what passes for humour in the McCain camp?

    But maybe its a hint of actual foreign policy? If the British did it with China in the 19th century why cant the US do the same with Iran now?


  50. Alecto says:

    But MR. McBush, did you NOT get the memo, Cigarettes DO NOT CAUSE cancer, nor do they contribute to death. There is NO WAY that cigarettes would hurt ANY Iraqi.

    Tsk, Tsk, Tsk, off the company mark.


  51. Alecto says:

    bryan hussein Says:

    This type of FUBAR moment usually marks the end of someone’s campaign, and sometimes even one’s entire careeer.

    Fortunately for McCain, the mainstream corporate media is his base.

    Yes, the real question is:
    What the hell kind of barbecue did McBush serve at his MSM Barbecue howdown back in March? It still remains in the MSM digestive tract gnawing at them.

    http://www.cjr.org/campaign_desk/hold_the_sauce.php


  52. misshusseinmolly says:

    At least Cindy recognizes what’s completely tasteless and offensive — even if the guy applying for the job of leader of the free world does not. My esteem for her just went up a notch or two.


  53. Alecto says:

    upside99 Says:

    john kerry has such a rapier wit.

    What, the troll known as JK is a rapist!?


  54. Tawdry says:

    John and Cindy McCain, the Frick and Frack of the political world. Don’t you just love their comedy routine?! Now imagine what the MSM would have done with that little incident if it had been Barack and Michelle Obama.


  55. belac says:

    Jabber… stop.
    It’s becoming embarrassing…


  56. Art says:

    There goes his support from the tobacco cartel.


  57. DieNowForPeace says:

    Here’s a joke a Repuke would love:

    “Why is McCain running for President?

    To continue killing people like Bush.”

    Funny as a crutch, huh?


  58. Evergreen2U says:

    we don’t need another idiot as president.


  59. MapleStreet says:

    Not only is such a remark from a(n almost) president almost certain to further sour relations with Iran.

    But when the hazards of tobacco led to restrictions in the US, the tobacco companies marketed heavily overseas, including hooking children.

    Just another reason to be proud to be an american


  60. Leftside Annie says:

    Har. Har. Har. So dayum funny – I forgot to laugh.

    Go Cheney yourself, Gramps. You suck.


  61. House of Mayhem says:

    To quote BiPM:

    1…2…3…CLASSY!


  62. JBaddo says:

    decrepant, clueless, and out of gas……McCain and America


  63. Omnipotency says:

    Who cares about classy. This is America, and up until you worthless whine alls started to gain momentum we were the alpha male.

    Oh well, it happened to Rome, it was bound to happen here. Enjoy Anarchy hippies, you won’t live long in it, though the majority of you will live to see it take hold.

    Heres a hint: The Romans themselves destroyed Rome. Google it to be sure.


  64. jlmealer says:

    And the problem is?

    Remember to take your Marlboros and Camels to the DNC convention to have with your Kool-Aid!

    JOHN McCAIN’S 3R ECONOMIC PLAN 2008
    Abbreviated version

    Progressive Republican Candidate John McCain comes through for America with his 3R economic plan. In the persona of Theodore Roosevelt, McCain’s plan just makes sense.

    FIRST , keep in mind that to drop the fuel tax, the local gov’ts would crash. We must use the 3R to replace taxes lost from replaced fuel through green energy (Yes, we have it ready to go!)
    http://www.betterconstructed.com

    1. RETHINK: America must see globally on what America is capable of in our current state of technology, engineering and meet the demands that face the world.

    Private Sector framework is in place and current laws allow the 3R to happen. The Progressive attitude of John McCain to get things done by crossing party lines will resurrect America.

    2. REFORM: The American people must demand higher quality products and less restricted trade routes for Made in USA components. We will lead the way of MFG again!

    The USA will reform its dead manufacturing base

    3. REINVENT: America and Americans must reinvent themselves to reach and maintain these standards and by sheer American ingenuity, control the world’s marketplace in the competitive manner, as the USA has always been proud to be #1.

    NUTS AND BOLTS of the plan are simple.

    Billions of savings equates to millions of lost tax revenue from energy companies. The US needs a separate tax revenue source before we can move away from fossil fuels.

    McCain 3R solution.

    McCain’s 3R is about technical, closely monitored and rapid hands on training from pros to create new pros. Thousands of currently-job-displaced “once leaders in the manufacturing arena” will be asked to train and play instructor rolls in the 3R plan. Paid, of course, as these new leaders will help create a whole new style of prosperous America. A massive restructure providing thousands New American MFG means millions of new jobs for infrastructure alone.

    We have the buildings, needs and infrastructure to do this!

    New jobs is the mainstay for Creating a new guard for Social Security.

    This is the new place for financial speculators to invest!

    McCain’s Progressive nature embodies Theodore Roosevelt more than any US presidential candidate in history since the original Rough Rider blazed the greatest era of growth in America.

    We need John McCain to lead our nation with the same type of change.


  65. MCROCKER says:

    I wonder if Iran has talks about how awful it would be to kill us. Bet you a carton of Camels they dont.


  66. doktorgizemli says:

    This is another example that the “old world jounalism of Murrow, Cronkite and Rather is dead and buried. In the case of the Time Magazine reporter Ms Tumulty, she seems to think the finding out the who, what, where, when and how have been replaced with a steno pad, which she records what ABC said in rebuttle to the complaint of Congressman Kucinich. There is a great disconnect with what happened and the points made by ABC. She asks little of no questions to ABC. She takes what is handed to her and repeats it vebatim and then calls that reporting. I call is stenography. Lida Sohbet sohbet sesli chat Gelinlik Modelleri


  67. aliaygar says:

    why does the usa need to give aid to israel?

    erotik
    tatil


  68. doktorgizemli says:

    If you’re referring to Karl Schwarz’ articles, if they are true, how will we ever know unless the news media gets involved without bias? The military under orders not to speak out may never convey Karl Scharz’ expose’. Sesli Sohbet If Cheney was truly involved in 9/11 and protected in some way, then he’s being protected by what may be going on in the Caspian Sea area as well. That pre-9/11 August 10, 2000 article drives the point home to me that Cheney had a vested interest in the oil at the Caspian Sea area (before 9/11). Fx15 From all I’ve read in Schwarz’ articles, he claims the Taliban was working on a deal with Argentina with that pipeline in the Caspian Sea area and UNOCOL wanted the deal instead. Orjinal Lida It’s too much to get into here and I’m not able to convey in here what Schwarz has presented in his articles. Sikis Dig into Schwarz’ articles to learn more about the unnamed soldier’s experiences related to so-called Black Ops missions in the Caspian Sea area in Schwarz’ article. What Schwarz had to present in this article is an eye opener: kurtlar vadisi pusu izle



  69. ahmet mehmet says:

    I want suits in Colorado, New Jersey, and any other state where illegal suppression campaigns are being conducted. And some real looks at the polling methodology would also be eye opening.

    mynet
    dizi izle
    sohbet odalari
    ttnet sohbet


  70. Oyun says:

    Maybe thats a way of killing them


  71. doktorgizemli says:

    Just like the cold war when everyone who didn’t agree with the U.S. was either a communist or a communist sympathizer. Lida This poor crazy guy spent half a decade being tortured because a bunch of stupid politicians Lida were sure the NVA was in bed with the Russians (minimal help) and/or the Chinese (ancient enemy of the vietnamese). Orjinal Lida You would think he would have learned from others’ mistakes. Guess not. Republicans need an enemy. yuda This century it apparently will be all Muslims, Elektronik Sigara all of whom must be alQaeda operatives.


  72. denizerdogan says:

    Just like the cold war when everyone who didn’t agree with the U.S. was either a communist or a communist sympathizer. toki This poor crazy guy spent half a decade being tortured because a bunch

    of stupid politicians araç sorgulama were sure the NVA

    was in bed with the Russians (minimal help) and/or the Chinese (ancient enemy of the vietnamese). ssk sorgulama You would think he would have learned from others’

    mistakes. Guess not. Republicans need an enemy. key ödemeleri This

    century it apparently will be all Muslims, kredi all of whom must

    be alQaeda operatives.


  73. flash oyun says:

    yo nunca habia visto a Eugenio Derbez haciendo el papel de malo pero esta pelicula esta muy bonita y si le cae ambos papeles pero lo disfruto mas cuando hace el papel de comedian
    k?z oyunlar? | araba oyunlar? | flash oyun | oyun sitesi






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